A Member of Parliament (MP) from the Red Wall constituency is facing suspension from the Commons following his involvement in a gambling lobbying scandal. Scott Benton, who was elected as a Tory but has since been stripped of his whip, may be forced to fight a by-election after a 35-day ban was recommended.
Caught in a gambling sting
Scott Benton, the MP for Blackpool South, was caught on camera by undercover reporters from The Times, offering to leak information about an upcoming government gambling crackdown and raise the issue in Parliament in exchange for payment.
Benton was filmed in April, promising to provide "behind the scenes" information and boasting about his easy access to Ministers.
A breach of Commons rules
Using their position to lobby on behalf of firms is against the rules of the Commons. Following an investigation, the Standards Committee has recommended a 35-day suspension for Benton.
If approved by a vote of MPs, this punishment would be severe enough to trigger a "recall petition" from his constituents, potentially leading to a by-election.
A headache for Rishi Sunak
If a by-election were to take place, it would pose a challenge for Rishi Sunak, who has already faced tests at the ballot box. This could potentially become a New Year headache for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
An "extremely serious breach"
The Commons Standards Committee has described Mr. Benton's actions as an "extremely serious breach" of the rules. In its report, the Committee criticized him for suggesting that he and other Members of the House were corrupt and "for sale." It also condemned Benton for tarnishing the reputation of all MPs with his comments.
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